We are

The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent EU foreign policy. The EEAS supports his tasks of conducting the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in his capacity as Vice President of the Commission with regard to his responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field including the coordination of other aspects of the EU's external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.

The Budget and Posts management division EEAS RM.BHR.1 is responsible for the establishment and follow-up of the administrative budget of the organisation, covering both the Headquarters and the delegation network as well as all issues relating to accounting quality and management of the delegations imprest accounts. The total amount managed is approximatively 1.1 Bn€ and includes the EEAS budget (820 M€) and the contribution of the European Commission to the functioning of the EU delegations. Furthermore, the Division manages the mission budget and is responsible for the Posts management of the entire Institution.

We propose

The position of Budget Officer - contract agent FGIV as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS) in the Division’s Budget sector.

Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: immediately

We look for

The successful candidate will be part of a small team in charge of the overall management of the budget of the Institution, from conception to implementation and follow-up and all intermediary stages. The work touches potentially all areas of the institution that require money, and is therefore extremely varied but sometimes also involves significant stress and pressure.

The candidate will in particular assist the Head of Sector who is charged with the preparation of the initial draft budget, guiding it through the internal and external approval procedures, and the subsequent follow-up of the execution in the subsequent year. You will also be called upon to establish budget estimates for various files and provide advice to colleagues on budget-related matters and procedures, including the correct usage of the budget; this latter task requiring both tact and diplomacy.

The work can for example⁽¹⁾ involve:

• Definition of budgetary needs based on the requests from the services;
• follow-up of budget execution and preparation of execution reports;
• independently planning and piloting of budget transfer proposals;
• preparation of briefings for the senior hierarchy of the EEAS;
• follow-up of the actions related to audit, reporting, discharge, etc.., for the budget of the EEAS;
• follow-up of the budgetary needs of the EEAS in the framework of the SUMMA project;
• representing the service in the Council & Parliaments Budget Committees;
• inter-service relations on budgetary matters; and/or
• general reporting and management of specific files.

The successful candidate will also be expected to participate in the development of the budgetary and financial resource management policies of the Department within the overall EEAS policy framework, ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and contribute to annual activity reports, and provide information for internal audits and the Court of Auditors.

The position’s workload is varied and demanding. The core personal requirements are a strong desire to make oneself useful, curiosity, enthusiasm and a friendly and non-confrontational personality.

Legal basis

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS)⁽²⁾.

Subject to having passed the CAST exam, the successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group IV), on the basis of a contract with an initial duration of one year that may be renewed for a maximum duration of 6 years.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates for this contract agent IV post should:

• (i) have passed a valid EPSO CAST in FG IV; or (ii) be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST in FG IV (https://epso.europa.eu/en/job-opportunities/open-for-application) In that case, while the registration will render the candidate eligible for the selection procedure, the recruitment of a candidate on this vacant post will be subject to their successfully passing of the CAST exam that this candidate will be called to attend.³
• have completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
• have the capacity to work in English and French. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an asset;
• be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Candidates should:

• have strong drafting, communication and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• have relevant experience in the key areas of EU budget preparation/management/follow-up;
• have relevant knowledge of the Union’s annual budgetary procedures;
• have relevant knowledge of the Financial Regulation, in particular those parts pertaining to the administrative budget;

Furthermore:

• a good understanding of the budgetary framework in which the EEAS and its delegations operate, including a good understanding of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and its Interinstitutional Agreement;
• experience of working in a Delegation;
• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
• a good understanding of the budgetary and accounting rules in application for the Union Budget;
• experience with data-processing and reporting software like Business Objects and budget-related software like SAP and ABAC;
• advanced Excel knowledge;

would be considered as strong assets.

Specific conditions of employment

The signature of the contract will be subject to prior favourable opinion of the Medical Service.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting if she or he does not hold already a Personal Security Clearance to an appropriate level, in accordance with relevant security provisions.

Equal Opportunities

The EEAS is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EEAS is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

Candidates with disabilities are invited to contact CONTRACTAGENTS-HQ@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure the possibility to pass the selection procedure in equality of opportunities with other candidates. If a candidate with a disability is selected for a vacant post, the EEAS is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with Art 1d.4 of the Staff Regulations.

Application and selection procedure⁽⁴⁾

Applications should be sent to the following functional mailbox: RM-BHR-1@eeas.europa.eu

Please use the following title: "Application: job 417835 - Budget Officer in RM.BHR.1”

Such an expression of interest should be accompanied by:

1. An updated Curriculum vitae. Candidates shall draft their CV following the European CV form which can be found at the following internet address: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae.
2. A letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) in either English or in French;
3. To assess the candidate’s drafting and Excel skills: one Word document and one Excel workbook, which have been drafted/established by the candidate. It can for example concern a note to the file, a report, a budget estimate or an expense follow-up. We will in particular look for the ability to present complex information in a clear and structured manner.

Deadline for sending application: 17/04/2023 at 12.00 (CET).

Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and the competences demonstrated in the submitted files, and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the pre-selection phase.

The candidates who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel. The panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment. The Authority may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

In the interest of the service, after identifying the candidate that best fulfils the requirement of the post as set out in the vacancy notice and that has successfully passed the CAST exam, the AACC may also establish a reserve list of candidates. These candidates shall be informed that the reserve list shall remain valid for a period of one year from when it is established and that it may be used to fill the same post or an equivalent post in the EEAS having the same job profile.

It is recalled, that if the interest of the service so requires, the selection procedures can be terminated at any stage in the interest of the service.

Contacts

Pasqualino BATTISTA, Head of Division, 02/584 30 53

David HALLONSTEN, Deputy Head of Division 02/584 34 83

Saverio CHINDEMI, Head of Sector, 02/584 28 81

1. The successful candidate will hence not necessarily have to perform all nor not only these tasks.

2. Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, see

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20190101

3. An invitation to sit the CAST exam does not commit the EEAS to invite the candidate to a selection panel nor to offer a Contract Agent position, should they succeed the CAST exam.

4. Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019)8 Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website: (https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-public_en) and on the EEAS Intranet: (https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-statements-dp-notices)